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Seager expected to return to action Tuesday

Third baseman hasn't played since jamming finger in Cactus opener

Kyle Seager looks to continue maturing at the plate after hitting 22 homers and scoring 79 runs in '13 and could swat 20-plus homers in '14

By Greg Johns
/
MLB.com |

PEORIA, Ariz. -- Kyle Seager was sidelined for a fourth straight day Monday due to a sore right index finger, but the Mariners third baseman is expected to return to action Tuesday when Seattle faces the Dodgers in Glendale.

Seager jammed the finger while sliding into third base in the first inning of the Mariners' Cactus League opener last Thursday. He stayed in that game, but hasn't played since.

Manager Lloyd McClendon said Seager tried to talk him into playing Monday, but the skipper wasn't buying it. Not at this point in camp, with four weeks still to get ready for Opening Day on March 31 in Anaheim.

"We're just being precautionary with it because it's early in spring, but it's fine," said Seager, who went through a normal morning workout with the club Monday before sitting out the split-squad games in the afternoon. "It wouldn't even be an issue if this was the regular season."

Seager went from first to third on Robinson Cano's first-inning hit against the Padres in the spring opener, but rolled his hand over when he hit the bag awkwardly.

"That's what I get for sliding like that," he said. "It wasn't exactly a textbook slide. But it's fine. It's nothing major."

McClendon prefers players go in feet-first for just that reason.

"I don't really like head-first slides, but some guys are comfortable with it," McClendon said. "I'm not a fan of it. Your hands become vulnerable."

Seager won't abandon the style, however.

"Just hopefully it'll be a little better head-first slide next time," he said. "There wasn't even a throw, which just adds insult to injury."